Device for wrapping irregularly-shaped objects



Aug 24:, 1926. 1,597,528

0. LAUENSTEIN DEVICE FOR WRAPPING IRREGULARLY SHAPED OBJECTS Filed April 11, 1924 2 Sheets-Shei 1 IIIJI;

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""II I EL-J] x i O m 14 0 r O l i! S O Inventor:

0 0 o r E G) LAUEEQISTEBN DEVICE FOR WRAPPING IRREGULARLY SHAPED OBJECTS Filed April 11, 1924 2 Shama -Sheet 2 Fig. 3

Patented Aug. 24, 1926.

OTTO LAUINBTEIN, O1 WEBNIGEBODE, HAM, GERMANY.

DEVICE 1'03 WRAPPING IBBEGULARLY-SHAPEZD OBJECTS.

Application filed April 11, 18, Serial No. 705,988, and in Germany larch 5, 1H8.

This invention relates to a device for wraping up irregularly shaped objects, such r instance as candles, lozenges, sweets and sugar almonds by means of a flexible matrix B or former. The term matrix is to be understood as describing a relatively rigid wall closely enveloping the object or article pushed throu h it and which offers a certain amount of yield in the direction of move- 1 ment of the article. Such a matrix mi ht be formed of a cylinder with brush brist es extending inwardly thereon. The bristles however are of irregular elasticity and do not prove entirely satisfactory in operation.

According to this invention, I form the matrix of rubber, conveniently a piece of rubber tube. The cross section of the matrix preferably corresponds substantially in shape to the contour of the article to be 20 wrapped, but the area of the section is smaller or, at most, equal to the cross section of the article to be wrapped. The ends of the rubber tube are anchored to rigid frames which are larger in their openin than the cross section of the article whic it is intended to wrap. These frames cause the rubber tube to assume the approximate shape of the contour of the article and at the same time are spaced apart so as to tension the rubberto the extent desired. When wra 7 pin up irregularly shaped articles it leadvisa Is to provide resiliently mounted pressure pads acting on the exterior of the rubber tube so as to ensure .a more uniform 5 pressure of the matrix all around the contour of the article. -When an article such as a piece of candy or'other confection is passed, together with a sheet of tin foil or other wrap ing material, through a matrix 40 of-the kind described by means of pusher, the envelopin material is causedto cling closely aroun the whole contour of the article, whilst at the same time the pressure exerted is so ntle that sweets, such as those containing a iquor or cream in a surround ing shell of chocolate, can be wrapped withgglituany fear of damaging or bursting the The articles to be wrapped are received on a table from which they are pushed by the pusher through the resllient matrix and in order to prevent damage from these parts, the pusher may be made of resilient construction or the table ma be resilient or resiliently mounted or b0 these measures may be adopted.

arm.

In operation when the enveloping sheet is laid around the article, the edges of the sheet are, by means of the matrix, turned up so as to project over the top surface of. the 00 article. The folding over of these edges is preferably effected by three successive opera- First, a roller or forming surface is employed which is narrower than the object and operates over a part of its width.

Second, two rollers or forming surfaces are emplo ed which pass over the article in opposite motions and atright angles to the first mentioned folding movement, but which on] act on side portions which were not folde by the. first operation above.

Third, aroller or forming surface is used for folding over the remaining up-turned portions of the wrapping material, con-- veniently whilst the article is being carried. forward by the movement of the carrier in which it is sup orted.

The carrier may formed as a roll prc vided with recesses corrospondin to the W shape of the articles, the number 0 recesses in the diameter bein even, so that there is always a recess iametrically opposite anothe recess. Ejector rods may be mounted in the roller and operating in the recesses so that the insertion of an article in an empty recess presses theejector'to cause it to eject another article from the diametrically opposite recess.

Feeding of the articles to the mouth or the matrix is preferably effected by a means of an automatically oscillated gripper or tongs, the fingers of which are also auto matically 0 rated. The articles may brought to t e grippers by means of a trans- 5M porter which carries the articles up to a fixed point from which the gri pers carry it to the mouth of the matrix. e transporter may be an intermittently rotated disc, havin recesses for the article on its u per sur ace, Mitt tit iii

said recesses being open ende towards the periphery of the disc.' These recesses are shal ower than the article. The periodicall-y oscillated gripper ma have its resilient gripping fingers operate by a stop located near the end position of the movement oi. the As the arm moves away from this end position, the ripping fingers leave the stop and close on t e article under the action of their spring. In order to provide againstlm difiiculties arising from irregularities of the articles, such as lumps or blisters on the exterior surface, one at least of the resilient 'gripper fingers is preferably hinged. about a longitudinal axis.

v The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. lis a section taken on the plane 1-1 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a plan with the top cover removed, and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view showing the feeding device in plan.

In carrying the invention into efi'ect according to the form shown, the matrix 6 is mounted on thecover plate a, and consists of a rubber tube 0. The ends of the rubber tube are folded into wire rings or frames d which are bent to a contour corresponding to an enlarged section of the article to be wrap ed. Pressure pads e, which are under tiie action of springs f, operate on the exterior surface of the rubber tube e. The 5 rings f are mounted in pillars fixed to tiie bottom surface of the cover ate a. A pusher h conveniently made 0 wood, is mounted over the upper inlet end of the rubber matrix 6 and anysuitable means may I be provided for reciprocating this pusher vertically and synchronousl -with the op-,

eration of the machine. T e pusher h is arranged in two parts with a spring h interposed so as to give a resilient reSSure on the article being pushed into t e matrix. The paper or foil k is fed between the guide plates 2' and is cut off in desired lengt s by the knives shown. The feeding and paper cutting devices may be of any wellknown type and do not require further description or illustration.

A roller Z having recesses m, corresponding in shape to the articles to be wrapped, is mounted beneath the' lower end of the matrix tube 6. 1n thedra'wings, the articles to be wrapped are illustrated as sugar almonds. A ratchet wheel at and a ial .plate 0 are rigidly mounted on the spindle .the timing shaft w.

ted in Fig. 1,

--of the roller Z. A pawl carried by the lever p, which is loosely mounted on this spindle engages the ratchet wheel n. The lever 17 is operated from the cam q through the transmission levers r. The cam like the other cams hereinafter described on spring U.-

The cm is arranged to operate'e r011- surface of the 7 disc.

is mounted e lever s is adapted to be op er 2 carried by a pivoted lever y mounted on the end of the lever w. The lever y trails over a surface, not illustrated in the drawings, serving to preventthe roller .2 from falling out of operative position relative to the roller 1.

Two rollers 7 having their axes at right angles to the axis of the roller 2 are carried by trailing levers 6 pivoted at the ends of levers 2 and 4 which'are mounted on vertical axes. Midway between the axes and the ends of these .levers, rollers are mounted, which engage the cam projections 3 and 5 respectively, the levers being pressed against these cams by springs 14 suitably anchored to the side frame of the machine. The rollera is narrower than the article to be wrapped and is arranged in what may be termed a position parallel to the longitudinal axis of the article.- The rollers 7 are arranged transversally to this axis.

' A third roller 8 mounted on a lever 9 is arranged to bear on or near the transport roll I. A further roller 10 mounted on the lever 11, which is under the action of a spring 12, is provided. Pins 15 are slidablv mounted in radial holes in the roller The length of the pins 15 is slightly greater than the distance between the bases of diametrically opposite recesses m in the roller Z, whereby these pins act as ejectors.

The feeding device is mounted on the cover late a, see Figs. 1 and 3. A disc 17 (Fig. 3 is mounted to rotate with an axle pin 16 on which there is also mounted a ratchet wheel 18, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 and adapted to be given a step-by-step move-' ment by any suitable means, not illustrated. The disc 17 is provided with grooves 19 adapted to receive the articles 7' to be wrapped. these articles being laid in by hand. The grooves are shallower than the articles so that the latter project above the A lever 21 is rotatably 'mounted on a pin 20, supported in the cover plate a. This lever is-adapted to be oscillated by means of a rod, not illustrated but engaging in the end 22, so that the lever 21 oscillates in synchronism with the pusher h. A gripping finger 23, hinged at 24, and a second gripping finger 25, hinged at 26, are mounted on the lever 21, whilst both these fingers are connected by a link 27 The gripping piece of the arm 23 is hinged at 28 to this arm, so that it can oscillate about -a horizontal axis and thereby accommodate itself to irregularities in the articles. The

gripper arm 23 is under the action of a spring 29, anchored on the lever 21, whereby the two gripper-pieces tend to move towards one-another.

A stop piece 30 is formed on the gripper arm-23 and is adapted to strike against a bar stop 31 which 18 preferably carried .by a le er 32 and held. up't imp sition-by a groove or recess of the.

to be wrapped are laid by hand in thegrooves 19 of the disc 17. During the up- .ward movement of the pusher h, the lever 21, together with the grippers 23 and 25, is move away from the position over the open end of the matrix 6 towards the end position shown in Fig. 3. In this movement the stop 30 strikes the bar 31 thereby causing the rippers to open. 'When the lever 21 has reac ed its end position, the mechanism is so timed that the feed disc 17 makes its for: ward movement under the action of the ratchet 18, whereby a loaded groove comes into position to enable the grippers to seize an article. The stop pin 31 is then moved from right to left in Fig.3 by a movement of the lever 32, which is effected by mechanism not illustrated. In this way the grippers 23 and 25 close on the article. The separate movement of the stop 31 may in some cases be dispensed" with and the closure of the grippers effected when the lever 21 moves away from the end position illustrated towards the opening of the matrix I). In'

this movement of the lever 21, the article seized between the grippers 23 and 25 is brought into correct position over the matrix opening 6 and during this movement of the lever the paper or foil feeding device has fed a portion of paper or foil between the foil guides i and this foil is then out by the knives illustrated in Fig. 1.

The pusher It nowdescends and presses the article from between the grippers 23 and 25 into the matrix 6 and through this matrix to the recess m in the transporting roll Z. By this movement the paper or foil is closely wrapped around the contour of the article and the free endsof the wrapping material project above the upper surface of the article. If an article 'is already located in the groove diametrically opposite that which has just received'the article from the gripper as described above, the pressure of the incoming article on the pin 15 will move said ejector pin downwards and throwoutthe already wrapped. article in thelowermost transporting roll I. The ejected article fallson a'delivery plate 33. by means of whichit able receptacla' I The upwardly projecting edges of the wrapping material are folded over in three stages, the-timing of the operation bei'n effected from the cams in the timing shai t w. The cam g first moves the roller 2 from left to right, so that it folds over the u turned edge nearest to it but leaves the si e edges and-those on the opposite side of the article still upturned. Immediately after the retreat of the roller 2, the rollers 7 are simulis guided to a suittaneously moved forward in a direction at 'right angles of the roller a and thereby fold over the upturned side portions, leaving onl the edges on the righthand side" of the article in Fig. 2 now upturned. As soon as the rollers 7 return, the transporting roll I is rotated through degrees by the pawl on the lever and the ratchet wheel m. In this movement the roller 8 folds over the remaining upturned edge of the wrapping material whilst on further movement the folded over edges are subjected to the resilient pressure of the large flatting roll 10 whereby the wrapping operation is completed and the article ready for ejection at the next step in the movement of the transpdrtin'g roll Z.

I claim 1. In a wrapping machine having means for passing the article to be wrapped, together witha wrapper through a matrix, a matrix consisting of an open tube having continuous wall of being normally smaller in cross-section than the cross-section of the article to .be

wrapped. i 2. The device "of claim 1 in which the tube is provided with open frame elements adjacent each end thereof for holding the ends open.

3. In a wrapping appliance, a matrix consisting of an open rubber tube, said tube .being normally smaller in cross-section than the cross-section of the article to be wrapped,

.the article to be. wrapped, together with wrapping material being passed through said tube. p

4. A matrix for a wrapping machine comelastic material, said tube prising rigid frame parts, a rubber tube stretched by and having its ends held in said frame parts and resiliently mounted pressure parts operating on the exterior of said. rubber matrix.

5. In a wrapping appliance, a matrix consisting of an open rubber tube, said tube being normally smaller in cross-section than the cross-section of the article to be wrapped, an open frame element larger than the articles to be Wrapped for holding open .an end of said tube, the articles to be wrapped, together with wrapping material, being. passed through said frame element and said tube. I

6. Means for wrapping foil, paper and the like around articles comprising a re- .silient'walled matrix and resiliently mounted pressure pads operating externally on said matrix andtending to preserve the normal shape of the matrix against the influence of articles passed therethrough.

'7. A wrapping machine for articles cornvprising, a resllient walled matrix, means for feeding articles to .saidmatrix, a guide for wrappufg material over the inlet end of said matrix, a pusher operable over and through said matr x, means for folding in the upturned ends of said wrapping material, com prising a roller movable to fold one, side, two rollers subsequently movable to fold the sides at right angles to said first mentioned roller, a transporting roll for the articles and a roller operable during the move ment of said transporting roll to fold'in the remaining side of the wrapping material.

8. Ina machine for wrapping articles such as candies, a resilient walled matrix and means for feeding the articles singly to said matrix, comprising a periodica 1y oscillatahle lever, gripper parts lzlnged to said lever and resiliently held in gripping position, and stop mechanism operable on said gripper parts at the end of the oscillating movement of their carrying lever to open said grippers.

9. In a machine for wrapping articles such as candies, a resilient walled matrix and means for feeding articles singly to said matrix; comprising a periodically oscillatable lever, gripper arts articulated together and resiliently held in gripping position, a transporting plate adapted to transport single articles and present them to said grippers, stop mechanism adapted to open sald grippers in position to receive said presented articles, said grippers closing on 9. presented article upon a relative displacement of said lever and said stop mechanism.

10. In a machine for wrapping articles such as candies, a resilient walled matrix and means for feeding articles singl to said matrix, comprising an oscillatab e lever, gripper levers mounted on said lever, and a compensating gripper element hinged to one of said gripper levers.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

oT'ro LAUENSTEIN. 

